The back of each card shows a design of the actual department store buildings under the name "Maison Aristide Boucicaut" and invites guests at the Exposition Universelle 1900 to shop at this store. Each card promises "Interpretes dans toutes les langues" and proudly claims "Hors concours - membre du jury"! The colors are a bit faint, but this is a classy set.

Click on any image to see it full-size.

The first of these entirely human scenes takes place in a tavern,

after which we see the musician out in the cold with her very large instrument.

To make the point, we see her before her empty food cabinet, while children look in the door.

She stands next before a housewife's door

and even comes into her home.

Finally the stingy housewife points to the world beyond the musician again standing out in the cold.